Page 43 of Can't Be Love

She shivered in my embrace. “Okay,” she said, a little breathlessly and more agreeably than I think either of us expected. She still looked a little dreamy-eyed as I led her out of the house and back to the truck for the drive over to my parents’ house.

Lily

Chapter 17

I had always considered myself a dominant person.

I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

When Thomas got all growly or spoke to me with full authority like explaining exactly how our bonding was going to happen, it excited me in ways I couldn’t even fathom. And when he took the lead of things so assuredly in the shower, I wasn’t certain how I had managed to stay upright.

My cheeks started to pink, and the air seemed hot despite the coolness setting in as the sun dropped. Part of me thought it was a moment I would relive in my dreams over and over, and then reality spoke up reminding me I didn’t have to, because he was all mine, and I could have that anytime I wanted.

“You okay?” Thomas asked, sounding concerned. “You look a little flushed.”

“Oh, I’m fine. More than fine actually,” I assured him. He gave me that sexy grin and I sighed happily.

This is what I had waited for. This is what I had longed for, that moment of complete satisfaction and happiness that only a true mate could ever bring. I was a little disappointed we hadn’t already sealed our bond. Once I made up my mind on something, I wasn’t one to wait for it to happen. “Lily’s like a dog with a bone when she sets her heart on something,” my dad always said about me. Perhaps there was a tiny bit of truth behind his words.

I had decided to accept the mating call with Thomas, and oh my word was I ever thankful I did. I had big dreams and ideas of what it would be like, and he had so far exceeded every one of them. I was blissfully happy, and I no longer cared who knew it.

When we arrived at his parents’ house, he helped me from the truck, looking handsome in tight black jeans, black boots, and a navy and green flannel shirt that complemented my dress perfectly. We were a stunning match, walking in hand-in-hand.

The entire room went quiet when we reached the living room, where most of the family was sitting around waiting on us. Liam rose and crossed his arms over his chest, but Patrick came over and hugged me.

“Thank God!” he said.

“Come again?” I asked.

“I’m catching a flight back tonight and both Elise and Kelsey have been blowing up my phone looking for a play-by-play. You’ve given me nothing to tell them,” Patrick complained.

“Why are you heading back early? Is something wrong? Is E okay?” I asked, a hundred bad scenarios flashing through my head. Without realizing what I was doing, I clung to Thomas for support.

Shelby laughed. “Yup, they’re definitely a thing now.”

Lizzy scolded her.

“I wish I’d find my true mate,” Peyton sighed, hugging a pillow to her chest.

Maddie wrapped her arms around Liam and he finally began to relax.

“Look, none of that matters. What’s wrong that you have to head back early?” I asked Patrick.

“Nothing,” Liam said, trying to assure me. “He’s just whipped and missing his woman, so he asked if he could return a few days early.”

“That’s it? Really?” I questioned Patrick.

“That’s honestly it. I hate being away from Elise, but especially this long. It’s only a few days.”

I let go of Thomas and hugged Patrick. A low growl escaped from my mate. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Tell my sisters I’m fine, and to mind their own business.”

He laughed. “What the feck are you trying to do to me? They are going to eat me alive for every detail about the two of you, if your mate doesn’t kill me first.”

“She didn’t flinch on ‘mate.’ Yes! I knew it. Pay up, ladies,” Ruby said as Cora and Zach walked in.

“Pay up for what?” Zach asked his daughter.

“Ruby has a pool going for when Thomas and Lily are going to seal the deal,” Clara confessed.

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